Dancehall Queen Carlene Speaks On The Issue of Colorism Within The Dancehall and Jamaican Culture

Spice latest song "Black Hypocrisy" and recent incident with the Nightly Fix Journalist Naro brought the attention to colorism being an issue in Dancehall and Jamaica.

Carlene sat down with Onstage TVto speak on the topic which she indeed acknowledged that her light skin color allows her to have many advantages than her dark skin counterparts, considering that she is talented as well.

However, she also acknowledged that her image back in the 90s was not fitting for dancehall in which she did not receive support.

Being that the dancehall queen was a light skin woman from uptown many frowned upon her due to looking for a dark skin tone woman from downtown Kingston Jamaica area to represent the title.

Carlene also stated that the different black skin color shades are only relevant in the Caribbean. Carlene expressed, "When I go to Europe I am a black girl. There is no browning syndrome. When I go to the United States there is no browning."

The legacy of colonialism and slavery continues to prevail in Jamaica and Dancehall. This makes the lighter skin tone color and straight hair more favorable, which impacts most of the Jamaicans aspects of life from their beauty to careers. Most of the people who hold the position of power in Jamaica have lighter skin and straighter hair, as well as the beauty queens who represent the country.